Inclosed lighting unit



L. C. DOANE INCLOSED LIGHTING UNIT Aug. 21), 1932.

" s Sheets-Sheet 1 Fil ed Sept. 1, 1928 INVENTOR Awa 6 00am,

ATTORN EY Aug. 23, 1932.

L. C. DOANE INCLOSED LIGHTING UNIT Filed Sept. 1, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DOG 78.

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ATTORN EY Aug. 23, 1932. L. c. DOANE INCLOSED LIGHTING UNIT Filed Sept. 1, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Gf'Oy C.

- ATT'oR NEY Patented Aug. 23, 1932 LEROY "c; DUANE, fd'n MERLDEN, "CONNECTIGUTL'ASVSIGNOR m0 5.1111 :Miijtnn OMPAN 0B rliIEREDEN, COIJN'SZGTIGUT, A CORPORATION '01? CONNECTICUT hppl ic ti dn fil fl September 1, 1528; Serie "No. 3 03229.

The pfesnt-inifntioh fe1its t0 inelstl fighting unit's 511161" is Ijii' pfiftitflajrljr directed toward 'ihcld'sedfli ghting imits having upperglass "c oy'r and fa lowe gllass howl snppdivted frein 'th'e clover, tngthe'r with def i ic'e's fo'i' fastening the glas parts together and iip'pe'iting the 'lmver pz'vit in either "(if twp's'el'ected positions. I

The present invention a lsb makes p'rq vr sidn' Eo'r emplbyiilgincjlosed inf-letting niinbi soar'riimged that snh'sftan iy and the right may bedirefied *fipwmiy 6i 'dq'w'mwardly according to the position in which the rihei p'gl reflecting member is plae'ed. A px iiia'rj' fefle'etols tife' pie'i ided s'o as tdjdifect some of l 1 pie bf themam reflectingine mber fdr the 'pu'fpeseof fender;- ing the 's'l'iaddor screened glass part luminous. f

r A fufther o bj'ect of the present "invention is to provide a stipporting device adja'ptel t6 be se'ure'ci to the peri 'hera-l ecl es of the two glass parts and to support these glass parts either close together, 017 to suspend one of theme considerable distance below the upper art. h in v I ,3 p A further object of the intention is tn pro vide such a supporting de'viee Wherein the elements which sup-port thennder glass pajrt when lowered jarle capable of being Collapsed arid-housed within the 'de'vieewhich uppoft s or fa'steiis tbgeth'er tljie two pgi'rt's, A further object of the in enition' is to pin"- Vi'd aline of inclb'ed lighting units which nary use of the unit. this glass c' Ver plate is proper, m'anipulzt I v Inthe form 'ndiicated inthe slightly above the center O of the light source. This outer edgeof the glass cover plate 14 is carried in a channel shaped split ring 16. The lighting unit is also provided with a lower glass bowl 17 whose outer edge 18 is mounted in a split ring 19 similar to the ring 16. These two rings 16and-19 are fastended together by devices to be described.

As shown in Figure 1 the lower ring 19 also carries a metal "reflector'2O preferably made of aluminum and of somewhat the configuration indicated. It is conical or dish shaped and as shown extends from near the outer edge of the upper plate 14 down adjacent the lower part of the lamp bulb. It is provided with a downwardly drawn portion 21 and a comparatively large central aperture 22. The lower glass bowl or plate 17 has a central 'aperture 23 here shown as somewhat larger than the aperture 22 in this1e- Hector. A metal cap 24 having a reflecting inner surface is secured by means of clips indicated at 25 to the glass plate 17. The metal cap 24 also preferably carries an etched crystal glass knob 26. The unit may also be provided with a lamp shield 27 outside the neck of the lamp bulb.

When the unit is assembled as indicated in Figure 1 and the upper glass part is in the formof crystal glass etched inside and the lower glass part is opal glass, the unit will act asan indirect luminous bowl. Some of the light willpass directly through the glass cover plate as indicated by the ray (2. Some of the light will be reflected by the upper surface of the reflector 20 and pass up through the glasscover plate as indicated by the ray 6. A small amount of light will pass through the hole 22 inthereflector 20 and will be reflected back by the inner surface of I the metal cap 24 to fall on the outside of the reflector 20 as indicated by the ray 0. This reflected light will be scattered up underneath the reflector 2O and will pass out through the lower opal glass bowl or plate as indicated bythe ray (Z. Other rays of light will be reflected back by the reflector or cap 20and will pass up through the top of the unit, as indicated by the ray e. It will thus be seen that. most of the'light is sent upwardly and that only. a small amount of light is permitted to reach the lower glass bowl. This will be sufficient, however, to render the lower bowl luminous. A small amount of r light will also pass down through'the glass knob as indicated by the ray f, and will be scattered as indicated. 7 d

When it is desired to employ the unit illustrated in Figure 1. as a semi-indirect unit, the

" aluminum reflector 20 may be omitted. Di-

I rect light will then fall on the lower glass 7 plate or bowl 17 and be diffused.

.When the unit is to be employed as diffused lighting unit, the aluminum reflector 20 is omitted and the upper glass plate is preferably made of opal glass.

The direct lighting unit shown in Figure 2 employs many of the same parts shown in Figure 1 as being assembled for an indirect luminous bowl. The socket is indicated by 11, the lamp by 12 and the socket cover by 13. This socket cover is preferably asso= ciated with a form of shade support, such as shown .inmy Patents 1,571,578 or 1,580,711.

type of glass as the lower glass bowl 17 as shown in Figure 1. These two glass parts are preferably alike and interchangeable.

The lower edge of this glass part, now a cover plate, instead of a lower bowl, is fastened in the channel shaped split ring 16, in, a manner to be described. Preferably associated with this upper glass plate and upper split ring, is the aluminum reflector 20 which may be the same size and shape as the reflector 20shown in Figure 1 except that now it is inverted and carried above the light source instead of be low the light source. The lower glass bowl or plate 14a may be the same size and shape as the glass cover plate 14 used in the form of construction shown in Figure 1. Instead, however, of being made of crystal glass, it is preferably made of opal glass. This glass platel ia has a small central opening which normally fits the small socket 13. This openmg is now closed by a metal cap '24:, which carries a glass knob 26similar to the knob 26 in Figure 2 and the opal glass is used for the top andbottom, the unit acts as a direct lighting unit. Light'passes downwardly through the lower glass part 14a and is diffused as indicated by the light ray a. Other light rays are reflected by the lower'surface of the reflector 20 and pass down through the glass bowl 14a as indicated by the rays 1). Other rays of light pass upwardly through the hole 22 in the reflector 20 and are reflected-back by the reflecting ring 31 so as to fall on the outside of the reflector 20 as indicated by'the rays 0. This light is scattered about above the reflector and passes out through the glass cover 17, thereby providing soft ceiling illumination,as indicated by the rays cl. The glass knob 26 is rendered luminous by light passing through it as before described.

When the unit indicated in Figure 2 is to 47 are facing one another.

be employed as a difiused lighting unit, the aluminum reflector may be omitted.

The 1' 6 and 1 9 employed with the glass :parts '14 and 17 maybe identical. They are preferably i-ntheform of channel shaped rings split at 40 as indicated in Figures 4 The locking device provided for test-suing the partstogether may include straps 41 and 42 riveted 'to the channel-shaped split ring.

The strap 41 is notched asindicated at 43" to receive the bent prong orv tip 44 of the strap '42. The strap 41 is also notched at 44 to receive a clamping screw 45 threaded into the strap 42. The tip of the strap 41 is bent as indicated at 46 to facilitate manipulating the parts.

When the split ring is locked together as indicated in Figures 4 and 5 the glass part is secur'ely held in place and sourrounded by the metal ring. i

Each of the rings 16 and 19 carry a number of lugs 47. The two rings are assembled sothat the fastening devices 4l 46 and the lugs Flexible metal straps 48 are pivotally connected to the lugs 47 and extend from the lugs on one ring to the corresponding lugs'on the other ring. The parts 47 and 48 may be fastened together by l hollow rivets indicated at 49.

r The rings 16 and 17 and straps 48 are adapted to be housed inside a circular band 50. This band is slightly larger in diameter than the rings and is connected with the i straps 48 by pivot :pins 51. Each of these pins may be in the iornrof a screw which passes through a helical spring 52, through a strap 48, the band 50,and through U-shaped clips or yo'kes 53 which are secured to knobs 54. These U-shaped members 52 act as clamping devices.

lVheuthe lightinggunits are in use the parts are in the position-indicated in full lines in Figures 1-, 2 and 3 and at this time the rings 1'6 and 19 are close together. They are held in this position by the U-shaped clips or clamping devices 58 as shown in full lines in Fi-gure3. When one desires to obtain access to "the inside of the lighting unit, the lower i )art or the li htin unit is 'su orted in one and while pulling out on the clips 52 sutficient-ly to turn them part way around as indicated in dot and dash lines in the lower of Figures 1 and 2. The force holding the '5? lower bowl up may then be removed to allow the bowl to lower, at which time the bowl turns partly on its axis as the straps 48 swing on the pivot ends 51. Thisallows the band and lower glass plate to be brought some distance down below the upper or stationary parts of the unit. When the lower bowl is partly lowered,the parts are in the position indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 2, and when they are com- '5 pletely lowered, the parts are in the dot and dash lineindicated in 'Fignre 1. The stra s 48 areflexible-andtold or bend so as to'ilie inside the oute'r'band' 50. They are hidden when the unit-is in the usualoperating con-' dition.

The. device for attaching the two glass parts together may be entirely symmetrical so "that the :glassplates maybe fastened to either ring. 'Either ring ma -carry a glasspart and the metal-reflector 20, or the metal reflector 20 may beomitted if desired,

Inasmuch as the glass parts, metal refle'ca tor and rings and band maybe thesame for various types'o'l units and standard :torn'isio'i shade'supportm'ay be employed, it is obvious that a less number ot parts must be carried in stock to provide various styles of enclosed lighting units, as various conditions arise.

It is also possible to readily convert a unit from one style to the'other.

It is obvious that theinvention may be embodied in many forms and constructionswithin the scope of the claims, and I wish it to be understood that the particular form shown is but one of themany forms; Va: rious modifications and changes belng possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way with respect thereto.

l Vhat is claimed is:

1. An indirect lighting unit comprising an upper glass coverzaplate, a lower glass bowl of substantlally the same outside diameter, separate and independent rings dertachably secured to the peripheral edges of the upper cover plate and lower glass bowl respectively, flexible straps connected be?- binati'on with a lampsocket, socket cover and.

lamp bulb assembled together and adapted to be suspended from above, of a two part glass enclosure for the bulb, the upper part being fixedly supported by the socket cover and carried above the lamp bulb, and means for supporting the lower part with its outer edge close to the outer edge of the upper part, or'with the two glass parts widely separated to permit access to the interior, said means allowing the lower part to be moved axially downward and rotating it partially about the axis.

3. In an indirect lighting unit, in combination, an upper glass cover plate, a lower glass bowl, rings surrounding the peripheries of theplate and bowl, and means to support the rings close to oneanot'her or widely sep ar'ated to permit access to the interior of the below the cover to permit access to the ini dish-shaped light-diffusing glass part, an ups V lighting units, the means for holding the ring in the lower position including flexible straps extending from one ring to the other ring and having fixed pivotal connections at their ends with each of the rings. v

4. An enclosedlighting unit having a lower dish-shaped light-diffusing glass part,an upper glass cover, an enclosed electric lamp, a reversible metal reflector, means to mount the reflector in fixed position relative to either glass part, the reflector screening the glass part with which it is mounted and refleeting light toward the other glass part, and means for normally supporting the glass parts close to one another, and for suspending the lower part and the reflector, when mounted with said lower part a substantial distance below the cover to permit access to the interior.

5. An enclosed lighting unit having a lower dish-shaped light-diffusing glass part, an upper glass cover, an enclosed electric lamp, a reversible metal reflector, means to mount the reflector in fixed position relative to either glass part, the reflector screening the glass part withwhich it is mounted and reflecting light toward the other glass part, and means for normally supporting the glass parts close to one another, and for'suspending the. lower part and the reflector, when mounted with the said'lower parta substantial distance be low the cover to permit access to the interior, said means including rings mounted about the peripheries of the glass part, a band adapted to receive the rings and flexible metal straps attached to the band and connected with the rings.

' 6. An enclosed lighting unit having a lower:

dish-shaped light-diffusing glass part, an upper glass cover, an enclosed electric lamp, a reversible'metal reflector, means to mount the reflector in fixed position relative to either glass part, the reflector screening the glass part with which it is mounted and reflecting light toward-the other glass part,'and means for normally supporting the glass parts close to one another, and for suspending the lower part and the reflector, when mounted with the said lower part a substantial distance terior,said means including means which effects an axial movement of the lower glass part and causes a partial rotation thereof.

7. An enclosed lighting unit having a lower per glass cover, an enclosed electric lamp. a

reversible metal reflector, means to mount the glass part for reflecting light on to the outside.-

of the first reflector for illuminating the" screened glass part.

8. An enclosed lighting unit having-a lower dish-shaped lightdiffusing glass part, an up- 1 per glass cover, an enclosedelectriclamp, a

dish-shaped reversible metal reflector having a centrally disposed aperture and being car-w ried between the glass parts, the reflector when mounted in one position screening the lower part from direct light and having the inner reflecting surface below the lamp,- and when mounted in the other position screening the cover from direct light, and havingits in- I ner reflecting surface above the lamp, and an auxiliary reflector for reflecting light refacing one another to enclose an electric'lamp,

a lamp socket, a socket cover and shade holder co-operative with the aperture in the upper glass part for supporting the same, a rever-' sible metal reflector having an aperture intermediate in size between the size of-the' apertures in the glass parts, the reflector being carried between the glass parts: and shaped to screen one glass part and reflect 7 light toward the other part, coupling means between the two glass parts for supporting the lower part from the upper part, said" means being capable of holding the parts close together to enclose the'lamp or widely separated to permit access to the interior, and

an auxiliary reflector adjacent the larger sized aperture in the glass part to reflect light onto the outside of the first reflector'for' illuminating the screened glass part.

10. Anenclosed lighting unit comprising two conically shaped glass parts of substantially the same outside diameter and havingcentrally disposed apertures, the parts being one above the other, andfacing one another to enclose an electric lamp, a lamp socket, a socket cover and shade holder co-operative with the aperture in the, upper glass part for supporting the same, coupling means between the two glass parts for supporting the lower part from the upper part, said means being capable of holding the parts close together to enclose the lamp or widely separated to per mit access to the interior,an,d a fitter-carried by the lower therein.

11. An enclosed lighting unit comprising a socket cover, a lamp socket, an electric lamp 1n the socket, two conically shaped glass parts of substantially the same outside di ameter facing one'another to provide space to enclose the electric lamp, means for support-i glass part for closing the hole ing the upper glass part from the socket cover, means for supporting the lower glass part from the upper glass part, a centrally apertured reversible metal reflector carried beji v tween the two glass parts, means to mount the reflector in fixed position relative to either glass part, the reflector screening the glass part with which it is mounted and reband to which the straps are pivotally connected intermediate their ends, the straps and rings being collapsible to place them inside the band. p

13. A bowl support for lighting units com-. prising two rings, one adapted to be attached to a support while the other is attached to a bowl to support the same, an outer band adapted to receive both rings, means to clamp both rings in place within the band, and members fastened to the band and both rings for supporting the band and lower ring spaced below the upper ring.

14. A bowl support for lighting units comprising two rings, one adapted to be attached to a support while the other is attached to a bowl to support the same, a narrow outer band adapted to receive both rings, clamping devices carried by the band and engageable with both rings to secure them within the band, and members fastened to the band and both rings for supporting the band and lower ring spaced below the upper ring when the clamping devices have been released.

15. A bowl support for enclosed lighting units comprising two rings, one adapted to be attached to a support while the other is at tached to a bowl to support the same, a clamping means to fasten the two rings together adjacent one another, and links independent of the clamping means and connecting the rings together so that the lower ring may be support suspended a substantial distance below the upper ring.

16. A bowl support for enclosed lighting units comprising two rings, one adapted to be attached to a support while the other is attached to a bowl to support the same, clamping means to fasten the two rings together adjacent one another, and means to support the ring suspended a substantial distance below the upper ring, said means including horizontally pivoted flexible links which cause a partial rotation of the lower part relative to the upper part.

17. A locking device for a split ring adapted for attachment to the peripheries of the shades and the like, saiddevice comprising two straps each secured to an end of the ring and extending across the joint therein, one strap having two slots one of which receives an oflset prong on the other strap, and

a clamping screw carried by one end of the ring and entering into the other slot.

18. In an indirect lighting unit in combi nation, a glass cover plate and a glass bowl of the same outside diameter, rings about the edge of each glass part and secured thereto, and flexible metal straps having their ends pivotally connected to the two rings and adapted to act as tension members when suspending the lower ring below the upper ring or to flex so as to lie adj acentthe rings when the rings arevmoved to be closetogether.

19. A globe holder for lighting units, com-;

prising a substantially rigid upper support- I mg ring, a lower bowl-receiving ringof substantially the same diameter, and a plurality of wide, thin sheet metal strips flexible in one direction only and having their-ends at tached to the rings by pivotal mountings whose axes are radial of the rings, the strips having thin, flat faces toward the center and acting as tension members to suspend the lower ring from the upper ring and flexing to conform to the curvature of the rings when the lower ring is raised to be adjacent to the upper ring.

Signed at Meriden, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, this 21st A day of August, 1928.

LEROY C. DUANE. 

